Are you entitled to compensation for airline delays?
If you travel a lot using an airline it is practically
inevitable that at some point you will experience delays of some
sort. When that happens, even the most harmless of delays can have
unexpected ramifications that lead to much greater upheavals;
missing a connecting flight being but one example.
But what are the consumer's options when seeking compensation
for airline delays?
Start with a sensible approach. Consult the airline website as
regards their flight cancellation and delays policy. Assess your
eligibility according to their criteria, and if you qualify,
proceed with your case. It will normally begin with contacting the
airline directly (do not contact the airport you flew from). Any
phone call will probably be a precursor to a formalised complaint
letter.
Describe in your letter what happened clearly, including the
length of the delays and the reasons given for them. For
example, did you remain at the airport or did you need overnight
accommodation? Did you or the airline provide it? Did you miss a
connecting flight? Tell them how much it cost you and how much
money you expect in compensation.
Should the traditional course of action fail you, there is the
additional option of contacting the Air Transport Users Council on
020 7240 6061, or visiting
complaints@auc.org.uk.
You have the right to use the courts as well. Our
GUIDE TO THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT
contains helpful information on this method.
Are you aware of Section 75? It may be your last
available option.
Assuming that you bought your tickets using your credit card,
and they cost more than £100, then according to Section 75 of the
Consumer Credit Act 1974, you have the additional right to claim
compensation from the credit card provider to
cover the costs of your airline delays. See our
Section 75 Claims guide for more information.
Claims
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